Characters
Describe Ms. Mac
Ms. Mac is an old English teacher who passes away from a heart attack at the beginning of the book. She was in charge of a drama group that put on plays at the school. She was best friends with Mrs. Frymire.
What happens to Ms. Mac. Why does this start trouble at the school?
Ms. Mac dies from a heart attack. Because of this, Ms. Martinez comes to the school to teach and she has a very different teaching style than the other teachers. When Ms. Mac dies Mrs. Frymire finds a play she wrote and wants to put that play on. The play is racist and causes lots of problems.
Why are Izzy and Billy Ray fighting?
Izzy ran into Billy Ray spilling his breakfast on him. This embarrassed him. Billy Ray then shoved Izzy into the lockers but was stopped by a teacher. This caused Izzy to make fun of Billy Ray during play practice. To get back at Izzy Billy Ray knocked him off a building and sent him to the hospital.
Where does Ms. Mac die?
In her English classroom.
Describe Mrs. Frymire or Mrs. Pruitt.
Mrs. Frymire was Ms. Mac's best friend. Ms. Mac was her mentor and she greatly respected and looked up to her. Mrs. Frymire is an older teacher who is set in her ways.
Mrs. Pruitt is another old teacher who works at the school. She was close to Ms. Mac but they were not best friends. She teaches history but some of what she teaches is not actually true instead she teaches based off her own opinions of Texas history using stories that she likes.
What do the teachers decide to do to remember Ms. Mac?
They decide to put on the play that she wrote.
Why are Raquel and Marco fighting?
Raquel and Marco are fighting because they have different opinions on the Alamo play and about what happened in the actual story of the Alamo. Raquel argues with Mrs. Pruitt in class and gets mad when Marco does not support her. Raquel feels that the Mexican army were the good guys whereas Marco feels the Americans were the good guys.
Where does Raquel fight with Marco?
At the Rosemont Middle School.
Describe Ms. Martinez
What causes the students to begin fighting with each other?
The stress of the play causes the students to fight with each other. Billy Ray and Izzy start fighting after Izzy spills his food on him. Raquel and Marco fight over their different opinions on the play.
Why is Ms. Martinez fighting with the other teachers?
Ms. Martinez feels that the play is racist. The way the Mexican characters talk is awful and she wants to change it. Mrs. Pruitt and Mrs. Frymire want it to stay the same because that is the way Ms. Mac wrote it.
Ms. Martinez also corrects the wrong stories that Mrs. Pruitt is teaching her class during the history lessons.
Where does Izzy get attacked by Billy Ray?
At the construction site.
Describe Izzy or Raquel
Izzy is Marco's best guy friend. Izzy looks up to Marco for being so strong and also for being a gentleman. Sometimes Izzy is annoyed that Marco is so nice to his sister. Izzy has trouble keeping his mouth shut and gets in trouble for the things he says.
Raquel is Marco's girlfriend. She and her family are illegal immigrants. She is a proud Mexican. She has strong political opinions and can be too stubborn when she expresses them.
What happens that causes the teachers to change their minds about the play?
Ms. Martinez quits and that cause many of the students to quit the play. Because of the issue with Izzy and Billy Ray there are not any costumes.
When Ms. Martinez offers to come back in exchange for the Mexican actors lines being spoke in Spanish the other teacher have no choice but to agree.
Why are Marco and Billy Ray fighting?
Marco and Billy Ray are fighting because Billy Ray is jealous of Marco. Billy Ray wants to look cool in front of his friends. Marco does not like that Billy Ray is a bully and that Billy Ray is bothering Izzy.
Later in the story Marco is mad because Billy Ray forced Izzy to go to the hospital.
Where does Billy Ray try to attack Marco?
At the construction site.
Marco was training to be a professional boxer with his grandfather. However, after a match with AC Townsend he is not sure anymore. He is a loyal friend and is always trying to protect Izzy. He cares a lot about his girlfriend Raquel but they sometimes fight because they have different opinions. Marco believes it is important to be nice to people and be a gentleman.
How does the book end?
The school puts on the play with dances and with the Mexican army speaking Spanish. Every one loves the play and has a wonderful time.
Why are Billy Ray's dad and Izzy's mom fighting?
Because Billy Ray put Izzy in the hospital. Billy Ray's father does not care and keeps making excuses about Billy Ray's behavior. Izzy's mom is mad because Izzy went to the hospital and she had to miss work. In the end Billy Ray does not get in trouble so Izzy's mom is very mad and says she won't make the costumes for the play.
Where is the play held?
At the Josephine McKeever Memorial Auditorium.